CHAPTER LVII

THE PURITY MOVEMENT

BY B. S. STEADWELL

President of the World’s Purity Federation and Editor of “The Light.”

=The greatest evil.=--Wonder is often expressed these days at the very rapid growth and rise of the movement known as “The Social Purity Movement,” or as stated from its negative side, as is done most frequently, as the movement for the “Suppression of the White Slave Traffic and Public Vice.” The real wonder is that the world has not risen long before this in one mighty, well-directed effort to stamp out forever and annihilate its one worst enemy; for impurity is and always has been the greatest enemy and most relentless foe of mankind. In its modern and commercialized aspects it embodies in itself every evil in the category of sin and crime. It has brought more direct loss to the world and more acute suffering to human hearts than all other evils combined. Whether it is dealing with an individual, a community, a state or a nation, its finished product is always a wreck. It has literally filled the world with disease, with despair and with death.

=Its only excuse.=--Impurity or immorality finds expression in a public sense in the Social Evil or prostitution, the only known excuse for which is the plea that it has always existed, is a necessary evil and hence cannot be suppressed but must remain, under such regulatory measures as may be adopted. There are those of us, however, who believe that this is a false theory, not well founded in fact, and that as other great evils, in favor of which the same suave arguments were made, have from time to time been wiped out, even so can this ogre of public vice be suppressed. It is not claimed that all private or clandestine vice can be entirely annihilated, but its public phase can be and must be up-rooted if civilization is to advance. There are those who even now prophesy that America in licentiousness and graft is going the way of ancient nations long since dead, and that her days are numbered if these evils are not speedily checked.

=Two colossal blunders.=--The scope of this article will not permit going into the history of the Social Evil, or, indeed, taking up the history of the movement that has risen to combat it, but in order to form a foundation for the discussion we must call attention to the two colossal blunders which have perpetuated this evil throughout past centuries and enabled it to

attain to its present proportions. These questions may be discussed with even greater fullness in other pages of this book, but it is fitting that attention be directed to them here.

=False modesty.=--The first mistake which was made in dealing with this particular evil was to place a ban of silence upon it, upon everything that could refer to it, and upon our whole sexual relations, nature and life. The results were not happy. Nothing could have been done more conducive to the growth of the evil. It brought in and developed the reign of false modesty, of prudery. Concealment is not cure. This evil craves darkness rather than light, and thrives upon silence and secrecy. A Turkish missionary wrote me some years ago that in his country where women must appear with their faces completely covered, the grossest immoralities were practiced by wives, undetected, in the very presence of their own husbands. Many of our present-day customs in pleasures and dress which form strong temptations for our young men and young women, are a direct result of this “conspiracy of silence.” Here is a foundation stone upon which the whole miserable system of immorality rests.

=The double standard of morals.=--The second great error which has fostered the evil is that known as the “double standard of morals,” making the world act as though it believed that what was very wrong and unforgivable in a woman, was not only permissible but a necessity in a man. Undoubtedly the originator of this very logical line of reasoning was a man. Woman, if one false step is taken, one breath of scandal uttered against her, must forever wear the scarlet letter, or else she must be sacrificed to perpetuate the very evil that has overtaken her; while man may live in lust and if this alone be his sin, retain his highest social privileges and standing. Without question this double standard of morals has been the most stupendous outrage ever foisted upon any part of the human race. It was accomplished at a time when “man was king” and so slowly, and carefully and cunningly did he plan it, that it has not only withstood the test of time and continued to thrive, but it has not too infrequently gained woman as its advocate, until we often hear, and sometimes not without cause, that “woman is the worst enemy of ‘fallen’ girls.” With these two weapons, the conspiracy of silence and the double standard of morals, licentiousness has marched steadily onward until it has conquered the civilized world so far as asserting its right to life is concerned.

=The commercialization of the social evil.=--But to these two errors which have formed so strong a fortress to the Social Evil, must be added in more recent times a third support, one which many students of the question believe is the leading factor at present in the whole accursed business,--_commercialization_. The Social Evil to-day is raised to the standard of a business. It is conducted in all of its ramifications for gain. It has simply taken on the spirit of this money-getting age. Its real motive is gain, greed, gold. It is very largely a man’s business, too, run by men for the profit there is in it, and in our country those who are directly connected with the traffic are in the main foreigners. The White Slave Traffic, about which we hear so much these days, is a direct result of this commercialization. Girls are actually sold into dens of vice. Only recently have these terrible facts been substantiated and the methods of the traffickers known, and until the past few years the charges that there was a traffic in women and girls for immoral purposes, have not been credited or believed by the great majority of people. During the past few weeks under the direction of the United States Department for the Suppression of the White Slave Traffic, more than fifty men and women have been convicted and imprisoned for this very crime, and scores of indictments have been found against others. This scatters all doubt about there being such a trade. During the past few years evidence of the traffic has been so complete through the investigations of individuals, grand juries, vice commissions, and congressional investigating

committees, that there is no longer any question as to the traffic or its extent. The problem now is, how to suppress it the most effectively and speedily. It is asserted by a United States official that fully 50,000 men in the United States are living off the earnings of women of shame and in selling girls into vice.

=Others who profit from the traffic in virtue.=--But the buying and selling of women for immoral purposes is not the only way that financial profit is made from it. It was discovered in a certain city recently that an old house that would rent for ordinary purposes for $12.00 per month, was bringing $165.00 as a house of ill-fame. Landlords profit from the traffic. Liquor dealers profit from the traffic. In the same way but possibly to a lesser degree certain merchants, druggists, lawyers, doctors, professional bondsmen, gamblers and divers criminals profit financially from the nefarious traffic in virtue.

=The extent of the evil.=--The extent of the Social Evil in the United States is not definitely known. Surveys of cities have been very carefully made at times, and at the present time our Federal Department for the suppression of the traffic is conducting a very careful census of the women in houses of shame throughout the United States. When this is completed we may know more certainly as to statistics. The writer after a most careful and thorough investigation in 1898, estimated the number of girls and women in houses of shame in our country at 300,000. This figure has been very generally accepted and used, and from recent investigations it is evident that the number has not decreased. The lives of women in houses of shame averages five years. They do not all die within this time, though many of them do succumb to the horrors of the life and accompanying disease, drugs and drink in much less time. Some leave the life for honorable work or return home, a few are married, some are rescued, but whatever the cause of their departure from the miserable life, this one thing is sure,--for every one that gets out a fresh victim is required to take her place. Accepting these estimates as correct, we see 60,000 girls and women are required each year to provide for the constant demand of the public houses of shame. More than 2,000,000 men and boys are the patrons and consorts of these women, ruining morals, health and happiness, and this is one of the most deplorable phases of the whole system. The profits from vice in the United States are beyond estimate, but are known to run up into the billions of dollars annually. The Chicago Vice Commission estimated the profits from vice in Chicago alone as $15,000,000 yearly.

=Why past movements have failed.=--This is the Social Evil as we have found it in the past and as it is to-day, together with the fundamental causes that are back of it. Movements have sprung up during past centuries to stamp it out or at least to limit and control it. Rulers from Moses to Charlemagne have attempted to deal with the problems which it presents. These efforts in the past have failed largely because they sought reform through dealing with the women of shame only and thus was recognized and fostered one of the principal causes of the evil itself.

=Why the modern movement is more effective.=--During the past sixty years there has developed the modern purity movement which has sought relief from the ravages of vice through a careful study of the evil and the application of such principles and remedies as would meet the situation effectively. This movement has been very rapid in growth not only in Europe and America but in all civilized countries. Even Japan has its book, “The Social Evil in Japan,” which not only reveals conditions there but also gives an account of the various organizations that are endeavoring to suppress public vice, and appeals for such legislation and education as will forever make the old régime impossible. While space will not permit us to treat historically of the origin of this movement or even to mention briefly those who founded it, we desire here to record our profound admiration for the early workers in this great cause. The “conspiracy of silence” was then in full operation. The faithful men and women who first stepped out from the beaten paths and espoused the cause of the “fallen” girl, were far more brave than he who faces midst the excitement of battle the cannon’s mouth. These pioneer men and women whose hearts had been wrung by the atrocities practiced upon the victims of vice, the utter despair in homes disrupted, and the agony of lives diseased and ruined, were socially ostracized, they were brought before courts, churches were closed to them, friends deserted them, mobs awaited them, all because they chose to set the slaves of vice free and to proclaim the truth. But still they were true, laboring faithfully on until to-day no movement for the uplift of society has a more general following and devoted leaders. All honor to the pioneers in the purity movement!

=Men are as guilty as women.=--The purposes of the present purity movement have been strongly hinted at in the statement of the causes which have produced the commercialized Social Evil of to-day. Workers now realize that if the dangers and evils of prostitution and public vice are to be reduced to a minimum, that vicious men must be dealt with as well as the women and that spasmodic raids and clean-ups and sensational methods and literature must have no part in the program. The methods employed must be both safe and sane and systematically continued for an indefinite time. The “conspiracy of silence” must be broken, but not by going to the opposite extreme; the “double standard of morals” must be banished forever, not by lowering the standard for women, but by raising the standard for men; and through legislation and the strict enforcement of law, the commercialization of the Social Evil must be made impossible. This programme is sure to result in success if the movement can attract leaders who are sincere, religiously normal and sound, and who will follow methods that are safe and sane. Great evils must be met with great movement if success is really desired, and therefore this movement must not be exclusive but should be large enough to reach and influence the great mass of our people. These remedies will effectively suppress the Social Evil if systematically applied, not instantaneously, evils are not up-rooted in that way, but by a gradual process of elimination that in the end will mean annihilation. The remedies proposed may be briefly outlined under the following heads: Education, Legislation, and Rescue Work.

=Education.=--We believe that every child should receive all possible knowledge, imparted in a pure and wholesome manner at proper periods, concerning the purposes, problems and perils of sex. The ideal place

to give this instruction being the home and the ideal instructor the parent, but where this is impracticable, as it is in most homes of to-day because most parents are ignorant of these subjects, the church, the school, and special instructors should be utilized. Most high-charactered physicians are fully able to impart such knowledge wisely. Normal schools should prepare teachers generally for teaching the subject of sexology. Through parents’ meetings, fathers and mothers can be prepared so they may at least answer the questions of their children pertaining to these subjects. The Church and Sunday School with their strong religious and spiritual atmosphere, furnish almost an ideal setting for teaching this subject to best advantage to the young. The instruction should fully set forth the dangers and perils in impurity and thus give the needed warnings, as well as portray the beauty, healthfulness and happiness of the pure life. Falsehoods or deception as to where the baby came from, or any other fact pertaining to the sex nature or function, should never be tolerated for a moment. The public should be made acquainted with the nature and dangers of the diseases of vice, venereal plagues, and told that much of our physical suffering is due to these loathsome maladies. Ignorance is largely responsible in permitting the Social Evil to exist. It must be displaced with knowledge. The double standard of morals must be fought, and men who are impure given to know that they cannot continue in sin without losing their social standing.

=Methods of education.=--There are hundreds of organizations in the world to-day, a part of this great purity movement, engaged in promoting sex education. Some of them possibly may not be working in the wisest way, but as the work is yet in its pioneer days the only way to learn is through trying, and as the public conscience is being thoroughly stirred and countless numbers of our best men and women are studying the problem, we can rest assured that in time ideal methods will be evolved. Physicians who but a few years back were almost a unit in teaching the necessity doctrine for men, to-day are organizing and promoting the very highest and best education. Many denominational churches are establishing purity departments, while Sunday Schools are entering heartily into the great work. Many Normal schools and colleges and private institutions of learning are adopting special instruction in sexology. Parents’ meetings are being held everywhere to promote the cause. Many who have felt a special call to the work are devoting their whole time to lecturing and the preparations of books on these subjects. Prof. T. W. Shannon, of Missouri, the author of this book, is one of the best known of these specialists. Such societies as the White Cross for young men and the White Shield for young women, and departments in women’s clubs, temperance organizations, Christian associations, and church federations, are aiding splendidly in the furthering of this cause.

=Legislation.=--Much has been done and very much more can be done to lessen the evils of vice through the enactment of suitable laws and the strict enforcement of law. Those who make a business of vice must be adequately punished whether they are engaged in buying and selling girls, living off the blood-money of vicious women, renting property at exorbitant prices, or securing an income and support from the detestable business in any other way. The stage, the press and the street must be purified. Amusements, excursions, and playgrounds should be properly supervised. Immoral literature and obscene pictures must be banished. Social and economic life must be improved. The hours of labor must be shortened, wages must be raised, a minimum wage insisted upon, sanitary conditions in factories and shops must be improved, employment must be assured to all. The Age of Consent should be at least eighteen years in every State. Segregated and tolerated vice districts should be abolished. Those who decoy either girls or boys into disorderly houses, or seek to initiate them into lives of sin, should be severely punished. Every possible protecting measure in law should be thrown about our boys and girls, our young men and young women to shield them from the temptations of vice.

=Law enactment and law enforcement.=--It is encouraging to note the many good laws that have been passed by our several States and by our National Government during the past few years in line with the above suggestions. Our Federal White Slave Traffic Act, together with the Department that has been established for the suppression of the white slave traffic, is an exceedingly strong piece of legislation, and in conjunction with various State laws against pandering, will suppress in time this awful trade in girls. Age of Consent legislation, ordinances against immoral shows, regulation of public dances and other amusements, and hundreds of other measures, are good laws. It is stated by many reformers that we now have sufficient law to suppress these evils entirely, but that our failure to do so is due to the fact that the laws are not enforced. To remedy this very serious defect law enforcement campaigns are now on in many of the leading cities, and these efforts are rapidly spreading to smaller places. Such campaigns sincerely conducted, will in time lead to the strict enforcement of law in America. It has recently been suggested that every State should organize a bureau or commission for the suppression of public vice and the enforcement of laws against the crimes of vice. If this can be accomplished, it is quite certain to lead to a better enforcement of these particular laws.

=Rescue work.=--Purity work had its very inception in the rescue of girls and women from houses of shame. It was in connection with this work that the facts pertaining to the methods of organized vice were first uncovered. There are in the United States at the present time probably two hundred and fifty rescue homes for erring girls and women. Unmarried mothers are cared for in many of these homes while the girl who has gone wrong may find shelter and protection in them if she is repentant and sincerely desires to return to a virtuous life. Where houses of shame are closed or segregated districts abolished, it is but humane that the inmates of these resorts be cared for until they can be taught some trade or work that will give them support. Many workers believe that the State should erect model homes for the reception and care of all such girls. Many of the rescue homes now running are under the direction of the Church, or other Christian or religious society. We should remember that in the redemption of every erring girl, we not only gain her but accomplish much in the prevention and destruction of public vice if we can prevent another girl from taking her place in the underworld. It is thus largely a preventive work. Every purity worker who is sincere, believes heartily in rescue work that is wisely and carefully prosecuted.

=A personal invitation--Come and battle with us.=--This in brief is the purity movement as it has developed and as we find it to-day battling for all that makes for a higher standard of purity in the life of the individual and in social and civic relations, creating a sentiment, a purity literature and an army of well-equipped workers that will make it forever impossible to return to the days of ignorance and prudery that have always existed on matters of self and sex. It proclaims the right of every child to be well born and the right to be followed through life with such an environment and training as will assure the very best development and highest attainment. This is all it asks. Is it too much to strive for? Surely we could not be content with less and be true to the intelligence and soul-life that is ours! No cause since time began has had more to offer to those who enter its ranks than this. It appeals to every true man and woman to help carry its standards to victory, and then when ignorance shall have been abolished by knowledge, vice eradicated by virtue, disease displaced by health, and _darkness_ dispelled by _light_, there shall be ushered in that Day of Days when man shall be supremely happy because he is pure.

INDEX

PAGE

Abortion, a mother’s testimony, 473

Adolescence, early, 143

Adolescent, period of boy, 204

Age, a sad old, 45

Air, effects of foul, 284

Alcoholic, effects of fathers, 480

Animals, baby, 108

Ant and Bee, devoid of love, 105

Asylum, a visit to, 487

Atavism, 442; examples of, 442

B

BABY animals, 108; birds, 105; fish, 100; oysters, 99; let alone, 55

BATH, air, 285; air for men, 372; cold and warm, 279; cold, easy inure one’s self to, 280; the friction, 281; effects on beauty, 279

BEAUTY, architects of, 276; and sex nature, 162; building through bath, 279; hair, face and teeth, 289; relation of air to, 283; some musts and must nots, 164; substitute for physical, 164; two kinds of, 162

Bible and Heredity, 400

BIRDS, baby, 105; beginning of love, 104

Birth, 263

BIRTH MARKS, 494; only nervous mothers, 494; materialistic puzzle, 495; an experience with government, 495; an explanation of, 496; effect of constant mental repetition, 497; how to prevent, 497; example of crawfish, 498; example of mole, 498; example of amusing case, 502; example of sympathy, 501; example of anger, 499; example of discussed, 500; a sad case, 502; child marked twice, 503

Blind children, 326

Books, advice concerning, 230

BOY, the problem of, 34; should be treated differently than sister, 34; should be taught to work, 34; enjoys making money, 34; future vocation, 36; moral training should be same as sister, 37; should play with girls, 38; companions of, 38; going to college, 40; how one tried to be a man, 174; adolescent period, 204; struck girl, 159

BOYS, should protect girls, 214; may injure themselves, 195; can live pure, 205; who make men, 181; why tempted, 179; a class of dangerous, 161; true and pure, 161; need training, 173; want to be men, 174; do not know effects of secret sin, 198

BOYS and GIRLS should play together, 157; social nature, 157; similar information needed, 122

BOYS and MEN sap their life, 198

Bravery, the truest, 213

Breasts, the, 135

C

Caponized male bird, 219

Change in life, man or woman, 542

Change in reproductive system, 538

CHANGE of LIFE, age when occurs, 534; other names for, 535; duration of, 535; evidence of, 536; nature of, 535; some precautions, 537; some physical disorders, 537; minor indications of, 544; positive indications of, 544; two advantages of, 545; in man, not unfortunate, 544; in woman, mysteries made clear, 534

CHASTITY, basis of genuine love, 443; value of in marriage, 438

CHILD, first born, 20; the training of, 47; each must be studied, 48; give something to do, 56; first idea of wrongdoing, 56; vital parts of education neglected, 67; scolding and threatening, 59; praised for asking about self, 87; told gradually regarding self, 88; not exact duplicate of either parent, 426; resembles both parents, 426; when moral training should begin, 429; how to prevent marking, 497

CHILDREN, study of disposition, 50; importance of early training, 49; one million adrift, 78; new way to instruct, 81; differ in the same home, 417; why some are alike and others differ, 419; products of blind chance, 429; robbed of birthright, 430; clear bill of health to, 435; inheriting low vitality, 436; few well born, 446; rights should come first, 546; of senile men defective, 546

CHILDHOOD, importance of physical training in, 52; importance of mental training in, 53; importance of moral training in, 54; social conditions change, 63; knowledge of self important, 63; confidence of, 64; the inquisitiveness of, 65; the unsatisfied mind of, 66

Christ, need of, 411

Cigarette, habit, 180

Colds, prevented, 373

Company, bad, 214

Conception, need of rest before, 450

Condiments, use of, 53

CONFIDENCE, of boys, destroyed by parents, 76; of girl, destroyed by mother, 76

Confidential social advice, 160

Consumption, 436

Consumption and cancer, 436

CONTINENCE, sexual necessity theory of, 314; biological law of, 315; views of unreliable doctors, 315; does not destroy virility, 315

Cousins, marriage of, 438

CREATIVE LIFE, nature and value of, 189; how to direct and conserve, 238

Criminal, a born, 461

Curiosity, how to satisfy morbid, 122

D

DANCE, why attractive, 232; secret of hold on society, 233; a menace of society, 233; other objections, 235; right information needed regarding, 235

Dancing, in itself not sinful, 232

Dance halls and picture shows, 573

Daughter, be companion to, 126

DEGENERACY, is there a remedy, 410; indications of constitutional, 435; two causes of, 476

DEGENERATES, what shall be done with, 475; many are diseased, 476; companion to, 435

Diet, 288

DIVORCE, problem of, 468; an Arkansas woman, 520; on increase, 522; not cause of wrecked homes, 524

Diseases, genito urinary, 548

DRUNKARDS, 436; home, 482

E

Edwards, Jonathan, family of, 399

EMBRYO, relation between mother and, 261; maternal attention, 262

ENERGY, the creative, 135; a chance to conserve, 546

ENGAGEMENTS, long, 243; of young men, 334

ENVIRONMENT, good, greatest blessing, 407; as potential as heredity, 515; value of early, 515

Ethics of engaged young women, 242

EUNUCHS, 193; sex energy of, 219

EXERCISE, the elixir of youth, 286; in open air, 287

F

Family, an ideal, 432

FAMILY TROUBLES, how solved, 22; relation too, children, 26

FATHER, how one failed in sex instructions, 70; son’s natural teacher, 166; looks after son’s education, 167; who holds to unethical ideals, 168; the model, 168; should not be suspicious but watchful, 172; transmit to sons more than to daughters, 491

Fathers, iniquities visited on children, 401

Fatherhood, the importance of, 166

FEEBLE MINDED, marriage of, 479; burden of, 506

FEMALE ORGANS, information concerning, 136; advice concerning, 137

FISH, story of baby, 100; why lay so many eggs, 101; all are orphans, 102; do not pair off, 102

Friendship and love, 333

G

Germ cell, the, 413

GIRL and BOY, similar information needed, 122; social nature, 157; should play together, 157

GIRL, and her father, 41; and her mother, 41; and her brother, 42; first and most valuable training, 44; the independent, 45, 519; wise instruction needed, 124; a confidential talk, 126; have been little all these years, 130; an interesting change, 138; new social desires, 143; why want a chum, 143; needs two chums, 144; choosing the right chum, 144; the wise, 145; boy struck, 159; vanity of, 162; in period of transition, 226; should consult mother, 247; if driven from home, 249; wronged, a real living incident, 250; blinded by double standard, 254; was she scarlet or white, 255; maternal instinct of, 264; the independent, 264; the modern, 518

GIRLHOOD, 237; comes but once, 161

GIRLS, sixty thousand lost annually, 80; should be treated as your sister, 213; association with young men, 237; should demand single standard of morals, 239; why they go wrong, 245; homes for unfortunate, 248

GONORRHEA, 324; discovery of disease germs of, 324

Gonorrheal rheumatism, 325

H

Heart trouble caused by excess, 548

Heaven, ante room to, 33

HEREDITY, versus environment, 396; applied by the Romans, 396; Plato’s views, 397; genius is, 398; Max Jukes, 399; Jonathan Edwards, 399; the potency of, 400; and Bible, 400; a modern proof, 405, 406; who is responsible, 406; morbid and bad environment, 406; relation of three agencies, 410; race can be improved by, 411; an objection answered, 420; materialistic theory fails, 421; explained, 423; who is to blame, 425; mothers advantage of, 428; right of child good, 445; and moral tendencies, 514; agencies of improvement, 512; received at birth, 512; parental responsibility, 514; environment and Christ, 516; a critic answered, 386; in plant life, 391

Hereditary, degeneracy, kinds of, 164

HOME, the childless, 21; childless made happy, 21; father head of, 24; a good substitute for, 30; should come first, 33; unit of government, 47; function of, 51; punishment in, 57; threatened, 471; a drunkard’s, 482

Home and school defects in, 51

Homeliness, how to correct some kinds of, 164

Homicide and suicide, 482

House keeper, a good, 31

HUSBAND, relation to wife, 24; to furnish financial support, 25; to furnish moral support, 26; to love wife, 26; considerate young, 335

HUSBAND and WIFE, equal partners, 29; how they differ, 29

I

Ignorance, a degrading form of, 543

Illegitimate father, danger of becoming, 321

Imbecile, Spitzka’s view, 477

Imbecile question, solution of, 477

Immoral women dangerous, 323

Immorality, who is to blame, 80

IMPREGNATION, 258; symptoms of, 263

Imperfection of plants and animals, 195

Impure thinking, effects of, 207

Impure thoughts, what produces, 223

INCONTINENCE, two forms of, 313; a false idea about, 313; effects of, on marriage, 317

Influence, the law of, 51

Inheritance, our mental possibilities, 513

Intemperance and crime, 484

J

Jukes Max, family of, 399

K

Knight, the true young, 211

Knighthood, will you enlist in new, 216

L

Lasciviousness, transmissible, 462

Letter writing, of young women, 241

LIFE, why we do not talk about, 90; how a mother told story to boy of, 111; a vine robbed of, 196; begins with a cell, 259; the creative, 309; how to build creative, 310; creative, built into greater mind, 311; creative built into social and moral, 312; is real, 413; is a unit, 421; planning for ideal, 445; important periods of, 540; a large, 545; the latter half of, 539

LOVE, and friendship, 333; tested, 443; tests of truth, 16

M

MAN, if you would be perfect, 194; original development under two agencies, 407; his fall, 407; need of third agency, 408; relation to the past, 416; change of life not unfortunate, 544

MANHOOD, if venerealized consult a Dr., 343; money and pleasure, 395; agencies necessary to perfect, 409

MANHOOD, regained, 338; pathological condition, 341; hinderances and helps, 341; facts to be understood, 342

MANHOOD, wrecked, the diagnosis, 339; causes of wrong thinking, 340

MARRIAGE, basis incentives for, 15; other incentive for, 16; means motherhood, 30; sometimes a farce, 30; hasty, 243; civil and divine institution, 525; of old men, 546; promises by white slavers, 577; effects of immature, 437; difference as to age in, 437; into criminal families, 437; wealth should have no influence, 438; of cousins, 438; basis of, 443; primal purpose of, 453, 531; new laws needed, 470; laws, how enforced, 471; effects of bad customs, 471; effects of feeble minded, 479; desired qualification of, 480; anxiety of girl’s parents for, 519, 520; customs have changed, 518; lax laws in this country, 521; better customs and laws needed, 521

Married people should understand sexology, 464

MASCULINE and feminine principles, 414; women and feminine men, 438

MATERNITY, not an affliction, 531; why regarded as, 533

Men and boys sap their life, 198

MEN, many defective, 196; young, many indiscreet or immoral, 239; few perfect, 337; wrecked minds of, 338; kept from Christ, 338

Medicine, 52

MENSTRUATION, 139; how made regular and painless, 140; physical, mental and moral changes, 140; meaning of, 141; function of, 532

Mental states, 423

Mismated, 16, 441

Mind, relation to salivary glands, 221

MISTAKE, of the past, 67; the minister, 253

Modesty--false, 602

Morals, double standard of, 602

MOTHER, important advice to, 128; should be true to child, 249; larger hereditary influence proven, 428; the society, 450; preparation for parental training, 457

MOTHER and CHILD, moral right to father’s name, 255; vitality one, 496

MOTHERHOOD, may not expose her sin, 246; may expose her sin, 246; sublime miracle of, 258; ideal perfect body essential, 264; training for, 265; enslaved curse of age, 553; practical dietetics, 451; rights of, 475

N

Nature, getting back to, 372

Neurotics, 436

No one had told her--poetry, 128

NOVEL, introduction, 225; why girls are fond of, 225; difference between good and bad, 226; effects of the vicious, 227

Nuptial night of young man, 335

O

OFFSPRING, mental and moral states, 424; effects of narcotics on, 451; from drunkards defective, 483

Organs of gestation, relation of, to mind, 222

Organs of sex, what you should not do, 147

ORIGIN, perverted ideas of--example, 73; questions of children regarding, 65

Ophthalmia, 325

Ovaries, location and function of, 133

Ovulation, 258

Oysters, story of baby, 99

P

PARENTS, the training of, 49; should agree, 56; the greatest blessing of, 408; immature, 431; effect of culture, 452; suppressing evil tendencies, 452

PARENTHOOD, intellectual preparation for, 447; physical preparation for, 448; an invalid mother, 449; morbid conditions transmissible, 449

Passion, meaning of, 210-310

PERSONAL LIBERTY, effects of, 485; two more examples, 487; versus rights of others, 488

PHYSICAL CULTURE, 291-303; for men, importance of, 371; for men, wild tribes, 372; for men modern customs, 372; Exercise--rules for, 374; Exercise--value of, 374; for men, exercises, 375-385

Physical ailments, common, 547

Physical disorder, 537

PLANTS, story of, 92; the outer parts, 92; the papa parts, 93; the mamma parts, 93; how the two natures unite, 94; two natures not always in same flower, 95; three methods of uniting natures, 97; a wise plan regarding origin, 97

Poetry--No One Had Told Her, 128

PREGNANCY, first twenty-four hours, 259; first thirty days, 260; second thirty days, 261

Prenatal opportunities, 427

PRENATAL INFLUENCE, effects of mothers, 460; effects of dishonesty, 460; effects of anger, 460; we are slow to learn, 462

PRENATAL TRAINING, one-half before birth, 454; transmission of acquired, 454; Dr. Fowler and Dr. Cowan on, 455: an example of, 456; mother’s preparation, 457; father’s coöperation, 456; order of, 456; Example--inventive genius, 457; Example--two girls, 458; Example--golden hair, 459; testimony of doctor, 459; vitality determines results, 463; G. Campbell Morgan on, 465; Wesleyan Methodist on, 465; Dr. Winfield Scott on, 465; Prof. Riddle on, 466; a suggestion, 468

Problem, divorce, 468

Procreative period in sexes, 532

Profanity, use of, 175

PROSTITUTION, men fallen as women, 318; no less sin because of price, 319; great physical risk, 320

Prostitution, its only excuse, 600

Prostate gland, information on, 325

Protected, inspected, neglected, 471

PUBERTY, 188; pimples, 163; treatment, 163

Pure man worthy of pure wife, 321

PURITY, three good rules, 59; personal, 60; a nation’s strength, 468

PURITY MOVEMENT, 599; why past have failed, 607; why modern is effective, 608; Education in, 610; methods of education, 613; Legislation on, 614; law enactment and enforcement, 615; rescue work, 616; personal invitation to assist in battle, 617

PUNISHMENT, in home, 57; study offense in, 58; corporal, 58

Q

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS on Sex for child, 117-122; on vital questions for young women, 266-275; on vital questions for young men, 345-370; on vital questions for married and unmarried, 550-559

R

Race suicide, two kinds, 474

Reproduction, lower forms of life, 414

Reproduction, in man, 415

Reproductive system changes during change of life, 538

Right and wrong experiences, 89

S

School should teach bodily and mental purity, 567

Scolding and threatening, 59

SECRET SIN, how learned, 146; moral effect of, 148; physical effect of, 149; letters concerning, 149; when should boy be told, 171; boys do not know injury, 198; often commences early, 199; how to keep from habit, 200; some effects of habit, 200; injures mind and morals, 201; injures sexual organs, 201; how to quit habit, 202

Self-respect lost, 321

Seminal weakness, hope for all, 343

Sex organs of boys, two functions of, 206

SEX, other purposes of, 305; life, principles of, 415; a resident part of life, 422; female organs of, 132

SEXES, similar in change of, 528; creative periods in, 532

Sex and social nature of girls, 158

Sex problems explained, 538

SEX ENERGY changes boy into man, 190; example--two full brother colts, 191; example--two full blooded chickens, 192; ways of using, 208; example--unsexed male horse, 218; caponized male bird, 219; eunuch, 219; unsexed girl, 219; for you to decide how used, 223

SEX HYGIENE, school instruction in, 560; silence a failure, 561; parents as instructors, 561; school can teach laws, 563

SEX IGNORANCE, parents not responsible for, 71; man as guilty as woman, 474

SEX INSTRUCTIONS, how a father failed in, 70; how a teacher failed in, 70; results of old method, 74; how a child gets information, 74; result of faults, 75; how to introduce, 84; how this can be done in schools, 86; author’s experience, 87; boy of ten, 123; girl of ten, 124; advantage of beginning early, 124; female form, 125; review of, 131; for boy, how to proceed, 169

Sex knowledge, views of past, 218

Sex life, relation of reading to disposition of, 229

Sexology, newly married should understand, 466

SEXUAL desire begins to wane, 543; discharge condition of, in unwell man, 190

SEXUAL GLANDS, two functions of, 220; the continuous function of, 220

Sexual necessity, unanswerable argument against, 315

Sex life, nature of, 304

Sexuality and sensuality, 463

SEXUAL ORGANS, 185; can be abused, 146; why given, 182; are not sinful, 182

Sexual system, names are pure, 183

SEX TRUTHS, two qualifications necessary to teach, 68; instruction of children in past, 71; desired by boys and girls, 77; how shall a child be told, 81; when shall a child be told, 82; the ideal way to tell, 84; teaching in public schools, 85

Sin, motherhood may not expose, 246

Skin, functions of, 371

Sleep, 289

Social and sex nature, relation of, 331

Social danger, 469

SOCIAL EVIL, two colossal blunders, 600; commercialization of, 603; why men are as guilty as women, 609

Social nature of young men, 331

Sowing wild oats, 431

Spitzka’s view of imbeciles, 477

Stricture, 324

Syphilis, 327; three stages of 327; innocent may be effected, 328; examples, 328-329

T

Teacher, how he failed in sex instruction, 70

TEMPERAMENTS, 439; motive, 439; nervous, 440; vital, 440; like should not marry like, 440; law of complements, 441

Testes, inflammation of, 325

TOBACCO, use of, 177; habit and enormous evil, 53; smoking by Dr. Pidduck, 490; effects of, 490; users, children of, 490; where both parents use it, 491; and degeneracy, 491

Training of perfect plant or animal, 173

Troubles in family, how solved, 22

Truest bravery, 213

TRUE KNIGHT, 211; has one standard of morals, 215

Twins, 417

Twin brothers, 419

U

UNSEXED girl the, 219; unsexed male horse, 218

Urinary organs, 184

V

Vagina, location and function of, 134

VENEREAL DISEASE, the bad cold fallacy, 322; two principles, 322; old as prostitution, 322; medical attention, 323; wife and children greatest sufferers, 325; health certificate regarding, 328; more dangerous than smallpox, 480; victims, 481; sterilization a remedy, 482; avoid by frankness, 566

Virtue, men think less of than women, 318

Virtue of boys sacrificed, 80

W

Warning, a word of, 548

WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC, 570; devices of, 572; cleverly worded advertisement, 573; examplesof, 580; greatest evil, 599

WHITE SLAVERY, how girls are retained, 581; a national disgrace, 585; power of Government to wipe out, 586; use of mail in, 588; laws inadequate, 589; new laws needed, 590; convictions and prosecution, 592; others who profit by, 606; extent of evil, 606

WIFE, should know value of dollar, 32; keep herself attractive, 32; be industrious, 32; take interest in husband’s affairs, 32; the helpmate, 333

WOMANHOOD, dawning of, 125; a real transition, 127; the charms of, 141

Womb, location and function of, 134

WOMEN, few go wrong by choice, 245-319; young should be sensible, 240

WOMAN WRONGED, should she ever choose title of Mrs., 256; necessary to tell child, 256; should tell story to her lover, 257; when not necessary to confess wrong, 257; a man’s appreciation of destroyed, 320

Y

YOUNG MAN, ethics after engagement, 334; nuptial night of, 335

YOUNG MEN, many indiscreet or immoral, 239; social nature of, 331; pernicious custom of, 232; engagements of, 334; certain rights not yours, 334

YOUNG WOMEN, be sensible, 240; letter writing of, 241; “hands off” policy, 241; ethics of engaged, 242; advice to, 243-244

* * * * *

THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC VICE CAN AND MUST BE ANNIHILATED.

THE LIGHT

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WORLD’S PURITY FEDERATION.

B. S. STEADWELL, Editor

This wonderfully helpful magazine has been published for fifteen years at La Crosse, Wisconsin, and has for its purpose the eradication of the traffic in women, (White Slave Traffic), the suppression of public vice; a higher and single standard of morality, and the safe and sane instruction of our young in sex hygiene and the laws of life. It is acknowledged everywhere to be the leading magazine of the world along social purity lines. It tells exactly what our parents, teachers, editors, doctors, pastors, evangelists, Sunday school workers, social, civic and moral reformers, and our young men and young women ought to know,--tells it in a pure, chaste way. It is a magazine that ought to be in every home, in every library, and in every office.

I enclose my annual gift to =The Light= of $5.00. You are doing a glorious work.--J. T. S. Williams, Iowa.

=The Light= has been of greater value to me than any other magazine I have ever read.--Virgil L. Smith, Wisconsin.

Your last issue is one of the very best Christian magazines that I have ever seen.--E. P. Miller, M. D., New York.

I can hardly wait for =The Light= to come. I wish it was printed every week. May God bless you.--Mrs. Simpkins, California.

I wish I were able to put a copy of =The Light= in every home, especially where there are young people.--Mrs. Nareganz, South Dakota.

In my work as Provincial Superintendent of Purity in the W. C. T. U., I could not do without =The Light=.--Annie K. Thompson, Victoria, B. C., Canada.

I certainly do not want to give up =The Light=. I look for it as I do a dear friend’s visit. It is one of the very best magazines I ever saw.--Mrs. Ferris, California.

Nothing has helped me so much to live down temptations in college as =The Light=. I can never be grateful and thankful enough to its editor.--J S. Scriminger, Virginia.

The May number of =The Light= is one of the best, the most hopeful and encouraging of all the good issues you have sent out. May God bless and prosper you in this good work.--Sylvanus Stall, D. D., Philadelphia, publisher “Self and Sex Series.”

Dear Mr. Steadwell: Enclosed find check for $1.00. Please continue =The Light= to my address. I can’t get along without it--nothing is more helpful in my work and there is not a copy that is not more than worth the 50 cents.--Mrs. Lulu Loveland Shepard, President, Utah State W. C. T. U.

=The Light=, so far as I know purity literature, is, beyond all comparison, the best periodical on the varied phases of the broad subject of the sex problem as it agitates the world today. It keeps abreast of the negative side, everything that is being done to reduce and eliminate vice is discussed in fullest detail; on the positive side, everything that is being tried to bring in a speedy development of pure manhood, womanhood, childhood, home life, public life on these lines, is dealt with sanely and in due proportion by writers of unquestioned competence, arranged with the skill of a born journalist.

I have a complete set, from No. 1, Vol. 1, and find it a perfect thesaurus of information on every conceivable phase of the question. Then each new number comes with new and most important matter, which keeps one up-to-date with the world-campaign for a clean humanity, while old and new material throbs with a constant inspiration. God give it an immense circulation until the World Federation for Purity shall have accomplished its work.--Rev. Dr. C. S. Eby, Toronto, Canada.

=The Light= contains from 68 to 100 pages each issue. Publishes all the reform news of the world and portraits of the leading writers. A yearly subscription is only 60 cents; single copy, 10 cents; foreign postage 15 cents per year. Help scatter its needed messages by subscribing yourself and urging others to subscribe. Agents are wanted for this magazine everywhere.

Address all communications and send all remittances to

THE LIGHT

B. S. Steadwell, Editor. La Crosse, Wisconsin.

* * * * *

Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:

There as so many things=> There are so many things {pg 89}

as he can develope into a pure=> as he can develop into a pure {pg 168}

“Hotchison notched teeth,”=> “Hotchinson notched teeth,” {pg 406}

tempermental adaptation=> temperamental adaptation {pg 439}

unnatural social, econnomic=> unnatural social, economic {pg 441}

kidnaped or carried=> kidnapped or carried {pg 590}